Ever seen the sea? Never? I too haven’t
Nonetheless I’ve heard of it,
A blue watery expanse where uncurbed waves engulf
The distant horizon.
This heart of mine is blue as the sea, with pain?
Haven’t you seen?
Where waves and waves of desire leap and ebb
Kissing the bounds of your memories.
Haven’t you heard? Haven’t you heard in my ocean
The restless music of the storm?
Haven’t you perceived? Haven’t you even felt in the garden
The soft hints of spring?
You do see the rainbow, don’t you? The bewitching pride
Of light on monsoon clouds;
On the firmament of my heart, aglow with love
Have you seen the festivity?
Have you ever woken up to listen at midnight
The heart-breaking Keteki?
Ever thought the hearts of people wail
In the throat of a bird!
I know about your little wisdom. O’ heartless darling!
You simply know
You’re yourself alone, I just me. But alas, you aren’t aware
Why, why we weave garlands of victory
From withered jasmines? Golden palaces
Of confluence and union
Why do we carve with the earth’s distressed mud
Pouring the crimson blood of our hearts?
Why do we wash the feet of idols? You won’t understand dear!
With what pain we immerse
The goddess on Vijayadashmi’s vain evening
Installed auspiciously three days before!
Evening is descending? Hey there, leave the lamp unlit;
Slay the darkness of my world
With the innate light
Of your twin eyes.
****______****
Dev Kant Barooah (22 February 1914 – 28 January 1996) was an Indian politician from Assam, who served as the President of the Indian National Congress during the Emergency (1975–77).. Barua was a noted poet as well. His collection of Assamese poems, Sagar Dekhisa, is still very popular. He was the elder brother of famous Assamese poet Nabakanta Barua.
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